TREE-PLANTING.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 556, 10 July 1909, Page 10

TREE-PLANTING.

Sir,—As it is proposed to do a lot of treeplanting,- both by tho!® Council.and by citizens, old and young, on Arbor Day, may I po allowed, to mako a few' suggestions as to tlw modo'of planting?. In' tho first'placo, however, I think.--the-plafrtuig-by juveniles is riot one that will prove of very great advantage. 'It is not ■•nigging'.' Solo and putting .in .a,' plant that is ail that Js necessary. 1 'Tuo. hills .about,tho city •. arc not. noted for wlien ,tho soil is properly prepared,-ifc 'is as good as most in : the country, I liopo I shall not havo tho superintendent of reserves down, upon;m©..for .this, letter,, as I-admit ho can' mako. il great .show of'bloom in tho way of carpet bedding, but,, oh! it cost® such a lot of money. , ■..■ ' Now', some portions of tho' hills about tho city -have , small , areas of what are termed gullies, iut.are mostly, at^all.events, on tho western isjde. of llount .Victoria,' depressions, and these contain "the best soil, .and, thcrofore,.-. plaints that ■ will l .igrow'..toa fair, size should.;.ty.planted.l do. not-'think forest trees...wo.ulct ; be suitable unless planted very thickly,;and,j : oveii ■ theii, the., persistentvwind prpyont.their.,jupright: -growth and kiU.:the tops.. : Tliere aro : a; number .of. handsomo 'shrubs and small trees; that' could. bo giown. ; in.,- such., localities, with success.:.■ . The rrioro .^xppsed.i..ridges -'and slopes oouid bo I planted with small hardy j or what would Ko better,,, a good ..sward, of grass. Thero would bo no danger of'fire if tho proper grasses were used. . ; Tho most important part of the . work) however, consists' m. the planting itself,-and'tha first in this is the,hole.' ;: This, should :be' at' kast two. feet across, and .12. to 18 inches deep;; the: soil taken out and placed.on:ono side, ..the bottom of tho hole and sides to •bo brokon .".with,, the spade, so as to allow tho vatcr to soak,away, and,also that the roots should ..more- easily enter the iharder soil. As most of tho soil is of a clayey nturc, and wlion, dry acts as a pot where, there-.is -likely ta. any/escess iof .water entering. thei .hole,-■ pi ovision should. be '.made by.;a 'small drain on.-the. lower, side. After this has", been done, tho sou, that .has:been >. taken-,*out- should, be well broken •.up and .mixed; and then put. DMk; in tho;hole. •• It :is aa well to J cave- t-ho nolo, open for a short time;.-'' When planting tho sou should bo taken! out' according'to the size Kof the:, plant,-.: tho croots ' spread: out, a s,mall. u qua.ntity;..of.:soil .putiovervthem, -and tightly pressed..; Thon4ho hole filled up and the Mil. immediately,.round the-plant pressed firml). .1 .advise /fairly doep planting, as jt givcs tho plant" a good ibold.—l" amy , T , „ . EXPERIENCE. July 6. ' /